A novel automatic ultrasonic inspection system for damaged fuel rods

Abstract The fuel assembly is the core component of the nuclear reactor, which may be damaged after long-term operation. Under the pressure difference between the inner and outer cladding, the coolant will penetrate the fuel rod. A set of ultrasonic inspection systems for damaged fuel rods was developed based on the characteristics that the plate wave would leak into the internal medium when propagating in the damaged fuel rod cladding, resulting in a significant attenuation of energy. This paper introduces the composition of the relevant system and introduces technological innovation. The test system has been simulated and verified on site. The verification results show that the inspection system can effectively separate the broken rod and the intact rod, and has strong safety and reliability.